Denard Robinson sprints into Columbus wrapped in mystery for Michigan-Ohio State

Updated November 21, 2012 at 7:50 AM;Posted November 20, 2012 at 9:51 PM

With well over 10,500 yards in total offense, Michigan's Denard Robinson figures to have a major role in the outcome of Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium. But how -- and where -- he'll play remains a mystery.
(Photo by AP file)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Denard Robinson arrived playing quarterback for Rich Rodriguez, a coach who fit him perfectly but couldn't win. He goes out playing for Brady Hoke, a coach that tried to jerry-rig his system to accommodate Robinson, but more importantly, has the entire Michigan program back on its feet.

Robinson was a half-season Heisman leader twice, but always fell off, a stunning and undersized athlete who put his body on the line and often paid the price. It's no surprise that he missed two games with an elbow injury before returning against Iowa last week, and as a running back more than a quarterback. But he was always hard to tackle.

Talking to reporters in Michigan on Tuesday, Wolverines offensive coordinator Al Borges danced around most questions about how Robinson and new quarterback Devin Gardner, who used to be a receiver, will be deployed against the Buckeyes. Against the Hawkeyes, Robinson was in the game for about one-third of the plays.

For Ohio State, they'll certainly be together in the backfield -- some. Robinson could hand off to Gardner, or Gardner could hand off to Robinson. Robinson could throw to Gardner or Gardner could throw to Robinson.

"It's kind of exciting being back on the field," Robinson told reporters in Michigan on Tuesday. "Had two weeks off and it feels good to be back on the football field, being with my teammates."

Especially with No. 1 running back Fitzgerald Toussaint out with an ankle injury that required surgery last week, the Wolverines need to try whatever they can.

As to what Michigan calls that formation, Borges said, "Denard in the backfield." That's as good a name as any.

"I know Denard, I recruited him," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "I have great respect for him as a person and as an athlete. He's one of the finest athletes in America, so you'd better know where he's at every snap."

Now you wonder how Robinson might fit with Meyer, who knows how to utilize athletic quarterbacks with varying skills, from Alex Smith to Tim Tebow to Braxton Miller.

"He did offer me as a quarterback [at Florida]," Robinson said. "He gave me the opportunity. But I'm happy I came to Michigan. This has been the best four years of my life."

Shoelace’s memories

Michigan senior Denard Robinson will face the Buckeyes in same way, shape or form Saturday, as a quarterback, running back or both. Here are his career stats overall and against Ohio State. Â

Robinson played first against Terrelle Pryor and now against Miller, in the same vein as them, a runner before a thrower, but in his own way. But he was always a game changer.

"I don't really think there's been any guy in college football since I've been in college that's done what he's done," said OSU safety Orhian Johnson, like Robinson a Florida native. "He's definitely taken that team on his back in a lot of situations and made a lot of plays for those guys. He's been a great leader for those guys and he's got a lot of accolades to show it. I think he's been a great player. He made a decision [to go to Michigan], but being from Florida, I always root for him."

Ohio State fans won't root for him Saturday, obviously. But as the Wolverines (8-3, 6-1 Big Ten) come to Ohio Stadium to face the No. 4 Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0), they could appreciate him, or least understand him and his place in this rivalry. He's the bridge from Michigan's slump to its future, from Rodriguez to Hoke, from Tressel to Meyer, from Pryor to Miller, from one-sidedness to competitiveness.

He was never the perfect quarterback. He threw too many interceptions, 39 in his career, although none against Ohio State. He did lose a critical fumble against the Buckeyes in 2010. But he was always interesting.

Once he's gone, Michigan will change, or more specifically, move back to what it was.

Hoke prefers more of a pro-style offense, and that's where the offense will evolve when Robinson's rare talents are gone. For this season, every time Ohio State struggled with a spread offense earlier in the fall and couldn't make tackles in space, it begged the question ... how will they stop Robinson when the time comes?

It didn't happen last season, when Robinson ran 26 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw for three scores as Michigan broke a seven-game losing streak against the Buckeyes.

"We weren't disciplined in our assignments last year and we let some big plays get out," senior linebacker Etienne Sabino said "That's something we have to eliminate."

Those problems have lessened through the season, with the Buckeyes, as Sabino said, "getting back to tackling."

Robinson's injured right elbow may continue to prevent him from throwing the ball, or even carrying it in his dominant right arm. He admitted Tuesday to some continued numbness in his hand, though he played coy about whether he can or will throw.

But his legs are fine, and they are what made him who he is. He's the Big Ten's all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback, and third in NCAA history, with No. 1 -- former West Virginia QB Pat White -- just 203 yards away. He's fourth all-time at Michigan in passing yards, rushing yards and first in total offense.

"Denard can run it just as well as a running back. When he's in the game, you have to look at him as a running back or as a running quarterback who can throw," Sabino said. "He's a great player."

Even if he's not 100 percent, he should at least give the Buckeyes some dose of what he does best.

"I definitely want to see him at full speed," Johnson said.

Robinson could win the game for Michigan, or he could lose it. He could run for 100 yards or get knocked out with another injury. At least, for this fourth and final time, he'll be part of the game.